Depression Counseling in Playa Vista, CA.

Depression can be experienced at any age and comes in various degrees impacting how we feel about ourselves and others. It can change our mood, eating, sleeping, thinking, and involvement in activities. Many individuals suffer in silence but their mood and behavior reveal a deeper turmoil within themselves. Talking to a trusted person about those inner thoughts is helpful but many friends and family members may not have the knowledge and skills to help you. Seeking a professional counselor can reduce feelings of isolation and provide you with feelings of hope. “Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed” Proverbs 15:22.

When you’re depressed it makes life feel like you’re walking through mud, everything is more difficult and tiring and you feel less motivated to do anything. This can make depression incredibly difficult to deal with because it requires taking action to overcome. I have personal and professional experience in recovery from this unpleasant disorder, which gives me an edge and helping people to heal from depression.

Depression drains the color out of life: heaviness in the morning, loss of interest in things you used to enjoy, a sense that effort no longer pays off. It can be quiet and grinding or acute and frightening, and from the inside it often feels like it will never lift. It can, and it does! I work to understand depression rather than just label it. Low mood is frequently carrying something: grief that wasn't fully felt, anger turned inward, a loss or disappointment that never found words. As we make sense of what your depression is expressing, its grip will ease, and energy and meaning will return. I've helped many people resolve depression, and I have full confidence that we can do the same!

Discover the cause of depression and what to do about it. Many times people feel depressed because they feel that their life should look different than it does in the moment. Dr. Eris Huemer joins with her clients by helping them explore a preferred future for themselves. She takes her clients through a process that helps them change by constructing solutions rather than dwelling on problems. The emphasis here is on finding solutions to current problems and focusing on future wellness rather than past hurts. This is not to say that the past is ignored but the main emphasis is on teaching new skills and creating the life that you want and deserve.

You're here for a reason. Something inside you knows things should be better, but how? Depression has a way of sneaking up on people. Like a frog in boiling water, maybe it started with fatigue, then there was a lack of interest in things you once loved (time with family, your career, athletics), then the negative self talk came in and made you believe "this" is the way you are now. Whatever the experience is, it's not too late. Together, we will work to get you back to feeling passionate, peaceful and in control. If you're ready to "feel like yourself again"--let's connect. I'd love to see how I can help.

My aim is to help you find your own way through your personal recovery. My goal is to support you every step of the way, as you break free from depression and find your own voice. I will help you recognize and build upon your strengths so that you can overcome any obstacles you may be facing.I will offer you an effective and compassionate therapy plan which works towards your goals and, most importantly, at your own comfortable pace.

Research shows that the most effective treatment for depression is psychotherapy. Depression can range from feeling down to major symptoms such as having trouble even getting out of bed or contemplating suicide (if you have suicidal thoughts or plans, call the National Suicide Prevention Line at 1-800-273-8255). Online counseling is effective for depression because it is easy to access: you can start treatment without even leaving the house.

Wouldn't it be great if we could take a pill to fix all our problems? While medication can be an important tool in fighting depression, psychotherapy and medication is normally the "gold standard." Forming a relationship with a therapist in a confidential and safe environment is an essential step on the road to recovery. Your therapist may end up knowing you better than anyone else in your life. Finding a "good fit" is vital. I seek to provide such an environment to facilitate self-discovery and to make change for the better.

CBT is a particularly effective treatment for depression, both as a combined approach with medication and as a stand alone treatment. Participating in CBT therapy for depression can help you restructure negative thought patterns and get out of negative cycles of thinking. Changing the way you think can help you interpret your environment and interactions with others in a more effective and positive way, improving the way you feel about yourself and helping improve your relationships with others. It may also help you recognize things that may be contributing to the depression and help you start doing things that lead to a reduction of symptoms and feelings of meaningful happiness.

I believe that as we grow up we are shaped by our relationships; this starts from the time we are little and continues for the rest of our lives. Through these relationships we are also shaped by society. In being shaped we create various meaning from our experiences as well as receiving and giving instructions on how to live. When we form new relationships of any kind, this gets challenged; coming together and finding a path forward that celebrates all involved is the key to success. Sometimes this gets stalled through unspoken expectations and anticipated or unanticipated pressure related to sadness. Lets explore this!

My therapeutic approach in treating depression is to assist my clients in gaining insight and awareness as to the origin and cause of their depressed mood and unhappiness. I conduct an evaluation to determine the severity of the depression and create a treatment plan for therapy. I assist clients in understanding the causes for their depression, help clients develop coping mechanisms and increase awareness of behaviors that perpetuate the client's depression. My work mainly consists of teaching emotional intelligence, mindfulness, DBT, and CBT skills to learn to manage and overcome the depression.

You can fight depression by exploring how your present emotions relate to past experiences. These insights, gained under the guidance of a caring professional, can deliver release, increase your understanding, build self-esteem and lead to healing. In parallel, you can learn ways to examine your thoughts regarding negativity, distortions etc. This helps you create more positive and realistic thoughts, moving away from having no control towards taking control. In addition, relaxation/meditation techniques can bring you a sense of balance and peace. If poor exercise, nutrition, sleep and social support contribute to your depression, I'll guide you to make changes and keep track of them

The therapeutic process and, applying a psychodynamic foundation, will assist one through healing from difficult moods and behaviors with a treatment model especially tailored to fit your emotional needs. We will discuss moods and behaviors related to negative processing of information and positive processing. Depression can become overwhelming and is often related to memories of chilhood trauma. We will work together at healing and letting go of the painful responses of traumatic injuries.